Balloon Inflation Device

ABSTRACT

A device for inflating a balloon or other inflatable structure is disclosed. A neck of the inflatable structure fits through an annular mouthpiece of an oral inflator, and a check valve assembly is inserted therein, compressing the neck of the balloon between the check valve assembly and the mouthpiece and preventing air from exiting from the balloon. Air is orally introduced into the check valve to inflate the balloon. A housing may be included for containing the oral inflator and the balloon. In one embodiment, multiple balloons are fixed to multiple oral inflators, each of which is connected through an inflation manifold to an inflation tube. An flexible strap with a selectively releasable fastener on each end can be used to secure the device to a swimmer. In one embodiment, a pressurized inflation cartridge may be included that has a selectively openable valve for inflating each balloon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/923,291, filed on Apr. 13, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to inflation devices, and more particularly to an oral inflation device for use by swimmers.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Swimmers of all age can find themselves in an emergency situation if caught in a riptide, or otherwise find themselves in deeper water and unable to continue swimming. In such situations, the need for an emergency floatation device is paramount. Yet such floatation devices, such as vests, floatation rings, and the like are relatively bulky, and as such are infrequently used. In the event a swimmer needs such a device but hadn't obtained one before swimming, the results can be tragic, particularly if bystanders are not alerted to the swimmer's emergency.

Clearly, then, having a personal floatation device that is not bulky and does not interfere with one's swimming or playing would be advantageous. U.S. Pat. No. 7,104,858 to Yonover on Sep. 12, 2006, teaches a strap for encircling a person's torso and that includes a pair of inflatable balloons. Such a device, while less bulky than a Styrofoam ring, for example, is still rather inconvenient to wear and use while swimming in that a belt or strap must be worn around the person's torso. Such a device does not provide for multiple uses once the balloons of such a device are inflated, which requires replacement of the entire device once used. Still further, the balloons used in such a device necessarily need two ports, making such balloons expensive to manufacture. Further, while such a device provides for brightly colored and therefore more easily noticed balloons, the device makes no provision for alerting bystanders audibly of an emergency.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,118,165 to Christopher et al. on Jun. 15, 1936, teaches a belt having a pressurized cartridge for inflating a floatation balloon that is fixed to the belt. Such a device has many of the same drawbacks of the Yanover device, in that it is bulky and interferes with normal swimming activities. Further, such a device is not easily reset once used, resulting in a greater cost of operation.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that a light-weigh, disposable item that can be readily attached to a swimmer's arm or leg to provide an unobtrusive emergency floatation device. The needed device would allow swimmers of all ages an easy way to inflate a personal floatation device, and further would provide means for audibly alerting bystanders of an emergency. The needed invention would further not require a person tie a knot in the neck of a balloon, or otherwise be concerned about air escaping the inflatable structures of the device. Such a needed device would be made of relatively inexpensive components and utilize readily available balloons, making its acquisition and use inexpensive and practical for a vast number of swimmers. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present device is an oral balloon inflator for inflating a balloon or other inflatable structure. A neck of the inflatable structure fits through an annular mouthpiece of an oral inflator, and a check valve assembly is inserted therein, compressing the neck of the balloon between the check valve assembly and the mouthpiece and preventing air from exiting from the balloon. Air is orally introduced into the check valve to inflate the balloon.

A housing may be included for containing the oral inflator and the balloon. In one embodiment, multiple balloons are fixed to multiple oral inflators, each of which is connected through an inflation manifold to an inflation tube. An flexible strap with a selectively releasable fastener on each end can be used to secure the device to a swimmer, the device being connected to the strap via a tether. In one embodiment, a pressurized inflation cartridge may also be included that has a selectively openable valve for inflating each balloon.

The present invention provides a light-weigh, disposable item that can be readily attached to a swimmer to provide an emergency floatation device. The present device allows swimmers of all ages an easy way to inflate a personal floatation device, and further provides means for alerting bystanders of an emergency. The present invention further does not require a person tie a knot in the neck of a balloon, or otherwise be concerned about air escaping the inflatable structures of the device. The present invention further is made of relatively inexpensive components, making it practical for a vast number of swimmers to obtain and use. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of an oral balloon inflator;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an oral inflator;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an oral inflator;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an oral inflator;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an oral inflator;

FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional view of an embodiment of an oral inflator;

FIG. 7 is a side cross sectional view of an embodiment of an oral inflator;

FIG. 8 is a side cross sectional view of an embodiment of an oral inflator;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a miniature personal floatation device of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the miniature personal floatation device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of an inflation cartridge and an output valve of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the inflation cartridge and the output valve of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is directed towards an oral balloon inflator 10 comprising an oral inflator 100 and an inflatable structure 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the oral inflator 100 comprises an annular mouthpiece 102, and a check valve assembly 103 comprising an annular check valve liner 104, a check valve 14, and, optionally, an annular mouthpiece liner 108, so that the inflatable structure 12 can be inflated without having to be held, such as while swimming. The mouthpiece 102 maintains an opening 115 in the inflatable structure 12. The check valve liner 104 is fitted into the mouthpiece 102 and serves as an adapter for the check valve 14 to fit securely into the interior of the mouthpiece 102 (FIGS. 2-8). The check valve 14 is fixedly inserted and attached into the interior of the check valve liner 104, where it closes the opening 115 of the inflatable structure 12 created by the mouthpiece 102 to prevent air from escaping the inflatable structure 12.

The mouthpiece 102 may further comprise a flange 106 at one end (FIG. 6). The neck 110 of the inflatable structure 12 is first inserted through the mouthpiece 102 beginning on the side with the flange 106 and pulled out through the opposite end as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the check valve assembly 103 is then inserted into the neck 110 of the inflatable structure 12 approximately 0.5 inch to approximately 2 inches past the opening 112 of the inflatable structure 12. Preferably, the check valve assembly 103 is inserted approximately 1 inch past the opening 112 of the inflatable structure 12.

The clearance between the check valve liner 104 and the mouthpiece 102 is slightly smaller than the thickness of the inflatable structure 12 in its relaxed and deflated condition. Thus, stretching the inflatable structure 12, for example by pulling on the neck 110, decreases the thickness of the inflatable structure 12 and allows the mouthpiece 102 to slide up and over the check valve liner 104 as shown in FIG. 7. Releasing the neck of the inflatable structure 12 increases the thickness of the inflatable structure 12, thereby increasing the resistance between the check valve liner 104 and the inflatable structure 12 and by increasing the resistance between the inflatable structure 12 and the mouthpiece 102. This secures the check valve liner 104 inside the mouthpiece 102 through resistive forces.

As shown in FIG. 8, the remaining portion of the neck 110 of the inflatable structure 12 can then be folded over the mouthpiece 102, thereby securing the mouthpiece 102 in place. The check valve 14, which is fixedly attached inside the check valve liner 104 now serves as a one-way valve to allow air into the inflatable structure 12 but resists the flow of air out of the inflatable structure 12. A user can hold the oral inflator 100 in his mouth with his lips or his teeth and inflate the balloon 12 without the assistance of his hands.

The check valve 14 can be fixedly attached to the check valve liner 104 by any permanent means such as glue, epoxy, soldering, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the check valve 14 is fixedly attached inside the check valve liner 104 with epoxy resin. The check valve 14 can be any suitable commercially sold check valve. Preferably, the check valve 14 is Coast Guard approved.

In another embodiment the oral inflator 100 further comprises a mouth piece liner 108 that fits between the mouthpiece 102 and the check valve liner 104, serving as an adapter for the check valve liner 104 and the mouthpiece 102. The mouthpiece liner 108 can be fixedly attached to the mouthpiece 102. The opening of the mouthpiece liner 108 can be slightly larger than the diameter of the check valve liner 104 such that the clearance between the check valve liner 104 and the mouthpiece liner 108 is less than the thickness of the inflatable structure 12 in its relaxed, deflated state.

The mouthpiece 102, the check valve liner 104 and the mouthpiece liner 108 can be made of any rigid material that is water resistant, such as plastic, metal, stainless steel, fluorocarbon polymer such as that sold under the trademark TEFLON®, and the like.

The mouthpiece liner 108 can have a flange on one end that is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the mouthpiece 102 such that the mouthpiece liner cannot fall through the opening of the mouthpiece 102. Similarly, the check valve liner 104 can also have a flange slightly larger than either the inside diameter of the mouth piece liner 108 or the mouthpiece 102, depending on the embodiment, so as to prevent the check valve liner 104 from falling through the opening of the mouth piece liner 108 or the mouthpiece 102. There are many other ways to prevent the check valve liner 104 from falling through the mouthpiece liner 108 or the mouthpiece 102 such as an inner lip on the mouthpiece 102 and/or mouthpiece liner 108 that the check valve liner 104 can rest on or providing a mouthpiece 102 or mouthpiece liner 108 with a particular shape, such as a partially conical shape, that would prevent the check valve liner 104 from falling through the opening 115.

The inflatable structure 12 can be made of any material that can be easily inflated. For example, the inflatable structure 12 can be made of plastic, rubber, latex, chloroprene, nylon fabric and the like. Preferably, the inflatable structure 12 is made of a durable latex balloon material such as that sold under the trademark TUFF-TEX®. Such an inflatable structure 12 is preferably brightly colored so as to be easily seen by rescue workers.

In one embodiment, the inflatable structure 12 is made of a metallic or Mylar® material 90 (FIG. 13), and the neck 110 of such a Mylar® inflatable structure 12 is wrapped around the annular mouthpiece liner 108 that takes the form of a thin annular cylindrical Mylar® liner 92. As Mylar 90® does not expand when inflated, use of the Mylar liner 92 is necessary to hold the inflatable structure 12 into the oral inflator 100.

Although the oral inflator 100 has been described to be inflated orally with a person's mouth, various manual and automatic inflation devices, such as pumps, can be adapted to utilize the oral inflation device 10.

In another embodiment, the oral balloon inflator can be attached to a highly compact and light-weight miniature personal flotation device 11, which further comprises an attachment strap 20. The miniature personal flotation device 11 may also have an inflation cartridge 50, a whistle 70, and a housing 40. The housing 40 may be a rigid plastic housing (not shown), or preferably a mesh pocket fixed to the attachment strap 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The miniature personal flotation device 11 (FIG. 9) of the invention utilizes an attachment strap 20, which may be worn by a swimmer, particularly a child. The ends 25 of the attachment strap may be equipped with readily releasable fastener 30, for example, a hook-and-loop type fabric fastener 26, such as those sold under the registered trademark Velcro®. This allows the ends 25 of the attachment strap 20 to be easily wrapped and snugly secured about the arm, leg, or torso of swimmers of different sizes (FIG. 10).

Connected to the attachment strap 20 are one or more inflatable structures 12, which may be deflated balloon-like structures 12 formed of rubber and connected to the attachment strap 20 by an inflatable structure tether 60, which is preferably a relatively short cord of about eighteen to twenty-four inches. Each of the inflatable structures 12 may be inflated to a diameter of preferably approximately eight to twelve inches, about the size of a soccer ball. In one version of the invention, the inflatable structure 12 may be contained within a module configuration 13, such as shown in FIG. 3, when not in use. The module configuration 13 permits compact storage of the inflatable structure 12 within the housing 40, but also permits the inflatable structure 12 to be deployed when inflated.

An inflation manifold (not shown) may also connected to the attachment strap 20 and the one or more inflatable structures 12. The inflation manifold permits air to pass from the inflation cartridge 50 and/or a manual inflation tube (not shown) to each inflatable structure 12. Such a manual inflation tube may be fixed to the check valve 14 at one end, the other end protruding from the housing 40 to facilitate manual inflation of the inflatable structures 12.

In one embodiment, each inflatable structure 12 has a mouth which may contain the one-way check valve 14, which allows inflation and prevents deflation of the inflatable structure 12. In another version of the invention, the check valve 14 may be integrated within the inflation manifold (not shown), or the manual inflation tube (not shown).

In one version of the invention, an inflation cartridge 50 is connected to the check valve 14 and communicates with the opening 115 of the inflatable structure 12 (FIGS. 11 and 12) through a selectively-actuable output valve 58, as is known in the art, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,288 to Mackal in May, 1973. The inflation cartridge 50 may be a conventional CO₂ inflation cartridge 50, which may be manually discharged to inflate the inflatable structure 12.

A whistle 70 may also be connected to the attachment strap 20 and may be attached by a relatively short whistle tether 80 (FIG. 9). As such, a swimmer in trouble may inflate the inflatable structure 12 and then have ready access to the whistle 70 to alert bystanders

In normal use a swimmer wears the attachment strap 20 with the inflatable structures 12 collapsed in their modular configuration 13. The collapsed inflatable structures 12 may further be held against the outside surface of the attachment strap 20 by a breakaway strap (not shown), or the housing 40. The whistle 70 may likewise be held upon the outside surface of the attachment strap 20 by a breakaway strap (not shown) or with the mouthpiece of the whistle 30 inserted into the housing 40 in the attachment strap 20.

The miniature personal flotation device 11 is designed as a light-weight, inexpensive, disposable unit so that the entire miniaturized emergency personal flotation system 10 can be manufactured quite inexpensively, and so that all of the elements are quite light in weight and may be held in a compact condition on the outside of the attachment strap. 20 As such, neither the deflated inflatable structures 12, nor the whistle 70, nor the inflation cartridges 50 are burdensome to an individual swimming or playing in the water.

In the event of an emergency, for example if the swimmer is swept away from a shallow bathing area by a riptide, the miniature personal flotation device 11 may be quickly and easily inflated. In such an emergency condition the swimmer removes the oral balloon inflator 10 from the pocket or housing 40 of the attachment strap 20, places the mouthpiece 102 in his mouth and inflates the inflatable structure 12 by blowing at least two breaths into the mouthpiece 102. If desired, the swimmer can let some air out of the inflatable structure 12 by pressing the check valve 14 into the mouthpiece 102, which, in one embodiment (not shown), lets air leak around the sides of the check valve assembly 103. As such, the swimmer in this fashion can optimize the buoyancy provided by the device 10.

To use the embodiment having the inflation cartridge 50 and the output valve 58, the swimmer actuates the output valve 58, such as by pulling a lanyard or pull cord (not shown), for example, to discharge the inflation cartridge 50 and inflate the inflatable structures 12. The inflatable structures 12 each break free from the attachment strap 20 when inflated, but remain within easy reach of the swimmer due to the short inflatable structure tethers 60 with which they are attached to the attachment strap 20. The user can then simply wrap his or her arms about one or more of the inflated inflatable structures 12 to stay afloat while awaiting rescue. To attract attention the user may retrieve the whistle 70 and blow into it while clinging to one or more of the inflatable structures 12.

The inflatable structure 12 may remain tethered to the attachment strap 20 so that, even if the swimmer loses a grip on the inflatable structure 12, it can easily be retrieved.

The miniature personal floatation device 11 may further comprise an oral balloon inflator 100. The oral balloon inflator 100 of each flotation device 12 preferably includes a one-way check valve 14, which the user can use to manually inflate any inflatable structure 12 that is totally or incompletely inflated by the inflation cartridge 50. In one version of the invention, the inflatable structure 12 may be inflatable only by manual inflation and may not include an inflation cartridge 50. If necessary, the user may place the mouthpiece 102 of the oral balloon inflator 10 between his or her lips and blow to inflate each inflatable structure 12. The check valve 14 prohibits air from escaping the inflatable structure 12.

In one version of the invention, the miniature personal flotation device 11 may include a manual inflation tube (not shown) connected to the check valve 14. The manual inflation tube permits the user to inflate the inflatable structure 12 by blowing air into the manual inflation tube. The manual inflation tube may also include the check valve 14 therein to permit inflation of the inflatable structure 12 while preventing flow of air out of the manual inflation tube (e.g., after the inflation cartridge 50 is discharged).

In one version of the invention, the various structures of the miniature personal flotation device 11 may be enclosed in a water-proof housing 40. It is recognized that, in such embodiments, during use the attachment strap 20, manual inflation tube, and whistle 70 are accessible from the housing 40, such as by means of holes, access panels, or the like (not shown).

Unlike conventional personal flotation devices, the miniature personal flotation device 11 of the invention is designed as a light-weight, disposable item that does not interfere with movement of the swimmer during normal swimming and water play activities. Also, because it is manufactured of relatively inexpensive materials and components, it is within financial means of a large segment of the population.

While the present invention has been described with regards to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept. 

1. An oral balloon inflator for an inflatable structure having a neck defining an opening into the inflatable structure, comprising: an oral inflator having an annular mouthpiece and a check valve assembly comprising an annular check valve liner and a check valve, the check valve fixed within the check valve liner; whereby with the neck of the inflatable structure positioned through the mouthpiece and between the mouthpiece and the check valve assembly, the check valve assembly closes the opening in the inflatable structure and allows air to travel only into the inflatable structure.
 2. The oral balloon inflator of claim 1 wherein the oral inflator further includes an annular mouthpiece liner fixed within the mouthpiece.
 3. The oral balloon inflator of claim 1 wherein the mouthpiece further includes an annular flange at one end thereof.
 4. The oral balloon inflator of claim 1 further comprising a flexible attachment strap fixed to the oral inflator, the flexible strap having selectively releasable fasteners at each end thereof, whereby the attachment strap may be wrapped and secured about the arm, leg, or torso of swimmers of varying sizes.
 5. The oral balloon inflator of claim 4 further comprising a selectively openable housing for containing and protecting the oral inflator and inflatable structure, the attachment strap fixed to an outside surface of the housing.
 6. The oral balloon inflator of claim 1 further including a pressurized inflation cartridge having a selectively-actuable output valve in fluid communication with the inflatable structure.
 7. The oral balloon inflator of claim 4 further including a pressurized inflation cartridge having a selectively-actuable output valve in fluid communication with the inflatable structure, the pressurized inflation cartridge being fixed to the flexible attachment strap.
 8. An oral balloon inflator comprising: an inflatable structure having a neck defining an opening therein; and an oral inflator having an annular mouthpiece and a check valve assembly comprising an annular check valve liner and a check valve, the check valve fixed within the check valve liner; whereby with the neck of the inflatable structure positioned through the mouthpiece and between the mouthpiece and the check valve assembly, the check valve assembly closes the opening in the inflatable structure and allows air to travel only into the inflatable structure.
 9. The oral balloon inflator of claim 8 wherein the oral inflator further includes an annular mouthpiece liner fixed within the mouthpiece.
 10. The oral balloon inflator of claim 8 wherein the mouthpiece further includes an annular flange at one end thereof.
 11. The oral balloon inflator of claim 7 further comprising a flexible attachment strap fixed to the oral inflator, the flexible strap having selectively releasable fasteners at each end thereof, whereby the attachment strap may be wrapped and secured about the arm, leg, or torso of swimmers of varying sizes.
 12. The oral balloon inflator of claim 11 further comprising a selectively openable housing for containing and protecting the oral inflator and inflatable structure, the attachment strap fixed to an outside surface of the housing.
 13. The oral balloon inflator of claim 8 further including a pressurized inflation cartridge having a selectively-actuable output valve in fluid communication with the inflatable structure.
 14. The oral balloon inflator of claim 13 further including a pressurized inflation cartridge having a selectively-actuable output valve in fluid communication with the inflatable structure, the pressurized inflation cartridge being fixed to the flexible attachment strap. 